ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Tony Freeman and the Iowa basketball team cleaned up Saturday night at Michigan's Crisler Arena - both during and after the game.

Freeman established a career scoring high for the third time in four games to complement the inside effort of Cyrus Tate and Seth Gorney, a combination that led the Hawkeyes to a 68-60 victory over the Wolverines.

"Two, three weeks ago, we don't win this game. We stayed strong and stayed poised down the stretch. That was the difference," said Jeff Peterson, who had six of his nine assists while orchestrating a smooth-flowing offense that shot 61.9 percent in the second half.

Still, nothing came easily for the Hawkeyes. Iowa watched a barrage of 3-point baskets by Michigan cut a 16-point lead with 5 1/2 minutes left to three points in the final minute.

Even getting on the bus following the game proved to a chore for the Hawkeyes.

Players were summoned back to the locker room by coach Todd Lickliter to pick up the mess they had left behind.

"I had most of it picked up before they got back - just being a team player," Freeman said.

Teamwork had a lot to do with why Iowa was able to claim its first Big Ten road victory.

Freeman led the way, scoring 28 points as part of an effort that included a career-high six 3-point field goals.

He found himself with open looks as the Wolverines' zone collapsed on Tate and Gorney inside. Tate finished with career-high totals of 21 points and 11 rebounds and Gorney grabbed 12 rebounds, helping Iowa outscore Michigan 17-8 on second-chance points.

"We went to the boards more aggressively, not leaving anything out there," Gorney said.

Tate scored six of his points during a 17-3 run that allowed the Hawkeyes to pull away from a 29-29 tie over a 9:20 stretch during the opening minutes of the second half.

"We were able to move the ball, stay patient yet attack at the same time and that was huge," Lickliter said. "We shared the basketball and defensively, we played with a greater purpose and it paid off."

Lickliter appreciated Tate's contributions, which included 12 points and seven rebounds in the second half.

"Cyrus has worked hard in there for the majority of the year and our guys are starting to find him, which is great to see," Lickliter said. "He never complained when they weren't. He just kept working and now, he's starting to be rewarded as we grow as a team."

The win was enough of a reward Saturday.

"This means a lot for us, especially with the way we played," Tate said.

Iowa (9-10, 2-4 Big Ten) still found itself in a nail-biter in the final minute.

The Hawkeyes, who rallied themselves from an early seven-point deficit, saw the Wolverines (5-13, 1-5) hit seven 3-pointers over the final 4:10 to make things interesting.

By the time DeShawn Sims finished off his 18-point game with a shot from behind the arc with :39 to play, Michigan had cut what had been a 52-36 Iowa lead with 5:30 remaining to 63-60.

The Wolverines fouled Freeman on the inbounds and he hit both free throws, helping the Hawkeyes secure the win with a collective 10 of 12 effort at the line over the final 1:40.

Short shots

- Justin Johnson's recent struggles from the field continued. He hit 1-of-6 shots Saturday and is now 11 of 46 in five games since going 10 of 15 versus Indiana.

- Basketball didn't create the biggest buzz at Crisler Arena on Saturday. It was the presence at the game of the nation's top-rated football recruit, quarterback Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa., on his official recruiting visit to Michigan that generated the most chatter.

- The Hawkeyes are back on the road Wednesday, visiting Indiana at 8 p.m.

Contact Steve Batterson at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com

Iowa Mn FG-A FT-A Rb As PF TP

Tate 33 8-10 5-11 11 0 2 21

Gorney 36 2-5 0-0 12 2 1 4

Freeman 40 8-14 6-9 5 1 2 28

Johnson 23 1-6 0-0 1 2 1 3

Kelly 29 2-6 2-2 0 1 2 6

Peterson 28 0-4 2-2 3 9 1 2

Looby 11 2-2 0-0 3 0 0 4

Totals 200 23-47 15-24 37 15 9 68

Michigan Mn FG-A FT-A Rb As PF TP

Udoh 18 1-3 1-2 0 0 1 3

Sims 33 6-15 1-2 4 1 3 18

Lee 15 1-2 0-0 2 1 1 2

Harris 37 4-12 2-2 6 3 5 11

Shepherd 31 5-7 0-0 3 1 2 11

Merritt 11 0-0 1-2 1 1 1 1

Wright 13 0-4 0-0 1 1 1 0

Coleman 3 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0

Gibson 22 3-7 0-0 5 1 2 8

Grady 17 2-4 0-0 2 4 2 6

Totals 200 22-54 5-8 25 13 18 60

Iowa 29 39 - 68

Michigan 27 33 - 60

3-point goals - Iowa 7-19 (Freeman 6-11, Johnson 1-5, Peterson 0-1, Kelly 0-2); Michigan 11-28 (Sims 5-10, Grady 2-4, Gibson 2-5, Shepherd 1-2, Harris 1-3, Lee 0-1, Wright 0-3). Turnovers - Iowa 14 (Freeman 4); Michigan 12 (Harris 4, Sims 3). Steals - Iowa 2 (Peterson, Gorney); Michigan 7 (Lee 2, Harris 2, Sims 2). Blocked shots - Iowa 2 (Kelly, Looby); Michigan 5 (Gibson 2, Udoh 2).

Officials - Steve Welmer, Sid Rodeheffer, Tom Clark. Att. - 11,638.